PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The city council proposed the deferment of the approval of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region IV-B for Puerto Princesa’s local transport route plan after receiving complaints about the conduct of the dry run.
Councilor Nesario Awat said that passengers had taken two rides to get to their destinations during the local public transport route plan simulation exercise on December 7–9. The revision of the plan should consider routes that are “short to ride but long to walk” for commuters.
“Dapat iwasan ang double ride— yung mga lugar na traditionally dinadaanan ng mga sasakyan natin ay ma-maintain natin kasi may mga pagbabago na tingin ko ay short to ride but long to walk,” he said.
Awat authored two resolutions requesting LTFRB Mimaropa Regional Director Loumer Bernabe to defer the approval of the route plan and for Mayor Lucilo Bayron, through the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator, to revise and update the plan. He added that revision should consider factors identified during the simulation exercise.
Despite the negative comments received, Awat still viewed those as positive outcomes of the simulation exercise.
“Hindi dapat natin tingnan na palpak dahil negative sa ating mga kababayan. Sa aking paniniwala, ito ay positive. Successful ang dry run—dahil nalaman natin kung ano ang problema,” he said.
The multi-sectoral meeting conducted after the dry run came up with a consensus to review the route plan. It is important that the route plan to be submitted to LTFRB be acceptable to the locals of the city.
“Naniniwala ako na wag natin madaliin, mahalaga ang proseso. Once na nasagawa ay, no one will object and will say na 100 percent we will approve the revised public transport route plan,” he said. (RG/PIA Mimaropa – Palawan)
